Covering ring for a vehicle wheel

ABSTRACT

A covering ring for a vehicle wheel. The bead seating surfaces of a tire are mounted on the radially inner periphery of the rim. In order to prevent dirt and/or water from entering the space between the tire bead and the rim well, the covering ring has a width which covers the space between the tire bead, that portion of the rim which extends axially outwardly from the rim well, and the rim well. Also provision is made that the radially inner surface of the covering ring, when viewed in the transverse direction, extends horizontally or is laterally inclined toward the outside. Also provision is made that the radially inner diameter of the covering ring at no point of the space, which is to be covered, be greater than the radially inner diameter of the mounted tire in the bead region.

This is a continuing/divisional application based on co-pending U.S.parent application Ser. No. 540,194--Seitz filed Oct. 7, 1983, now U.S.Pat. No. 4,563,042--Seitz issued Jan. 7, 1986.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a covering ring for a vehicle wheel onwhich is mounted a pneumatic tire which is provided with a belt and withpull resistant and compression resistant cores in the beads; the wheelhas a rigid rim which is provided with radially inwardly extending rimflanges and, next to the rim flanges, on the inner periphery of the rim,seating surfaces for receiving the belted tire; furthermore, on theinner periphery between the seating surfaces and the rim well, recessedportions are disposed, the average diameter of which is greater than theaverage diameter of the seating surfaces.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The problem with this type of vehicle wheels is that in the verticalposition on a vehicle, dirt and rainwater can collect in the spacebetween each tire bead and the rim well and is prevented from drainingoff by the higher tire bead.

An object of the present invention is reliably to prevent theaccumulation of dirt and water in the endangered region of a vehiclewheel of the aforementioned general type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This object, and other objects and advantages of the present invention,will appear more clearly from the following specification in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a radial partial section of a vehicle wheel showing twoinventive covering rings mounted thereon, each of which is provided witha circumferential projection;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the encircled portion II of FIG. 1 in theregion of one of the covering rings;

FIG. 3 is a radial partial section showing a portion of a wheel and tirelocated relative to the middle of the rim with a second inventiveembodiment of a covering ring having an extra-wide cam;

FIG. 4 shows the covering ring of FIG. 3 in the non-mounted state andwith additional blocks;

FIG. 5 is a section through the mounted covering ring of FIG. 3 takenalong the line V--V thereof;

FIG. 6 is a radial partial section showing a vehicle wheel on whichthere are mounted two further inventive embodiments of a covering ringmade of hard foam material and provided with an ornamental ring;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the encircled portion VII in FIG. 6 in theregion of one of the covering rings;

FIG. 8 is a radial partial section showing a portion up to the middle ofthe rim with a fourth embodiment of a covering ring which comprises aspring ring and an ornamental ring fastened thereon; and

FIG. 9 is a partial plan view showing a portion of the covering ring ofFIG. 8.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The covering ring of the present invention is characterized primarily inthat it has a width which covers the space between the tire bead, therim portion extending axially outwardly from the rim well, and the rimwell. The radially inner surface of the cover ring, when viewed in thetransverse direction, extends horizontally or laterally at an inclinetoward the outside. The radially inner diameter of the covering ring is,at no point of the space which is to be covered, greater than theradially inner diameter of the mounted tire in the bead region.

The inventive covering ring, which assures a reliable protection for theendangered region, offers the advantage of an easy installation andremoval.

Pursuant to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the axialedge regions of the covering ring are elastically deformable. In thenon-installed state, these regions of the covering ring have a shape,which after installation thereof results in a pressing against the rimwell and the tire bead due to inherent forces. The ring can comprise abasically nonflammable material, such as a synthetic material or alsometal; if the ring is made of metal, the edges can be provided withsynthetic material in order to prevent rattling noises.

The radially outer side of the covering ring may be provided with acircumferential projection for support on the tire bead.

Pursuant to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention,uniformly spaced apart cams are placed on the outer periphery of thecovering ring; these cams mesh in corresponding recesses of the tirebead. In the circumferential direction of the covering ring, the lattermay be provided with a non-uniform mass distribution, or with additionalblocks which are distributed over the radially outer periphery and whichcan be easily removed by means of safety or breaking planes. Theseadditional blocks also can be in the form of excessively wide cams. Theadvantage of these measures is that the covering ring can servesimultaneously as a balancing means.

Pursuant to a further specific embodiment of the present invention, thecovering ring may comprise hard foam material which fills the spacebetween the tire bead, the rim portion which extends axially outwardlyfrom the rim well, and the rim well. To simplify installation andremoval, the ring of hard foam material can be segmented. Such a ring ofhard foam material offers the additional advantage of securing the tirebead against being lifted off from the rim seating surface.

Pursuant to still another specific embodiment of the present invention,a ring of hard foam material may be provided with an ornamental ring onthe radially inner side thereof. This ornamental ring can servesimultaneously as a mold during the production of the ring of hard foammaterial. Furthermore, the ornamental ring can be provided withfasteners for receiving balancing weights.

Pursuant to a further specific embodiment of the present invention, thering of hard foam material may be replaced by a spring ring having anornamental ring fastened thereon.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 illustrates a vehiclewheel with a convering ring 1 in the mounted state. A belted tire havinga radial carcass 2 and a customary belt 5 is mounted on a rim 6. Theends of the radial carcass 2 are anchored in the beads 4 by being loopedaround the bead cores 3. The tire is mounted on the rim 6 so that thebead seating surfaces are disposed on the rim 6 next to the radiallyinwardly extending rim flanges 8 on seating surfaces which are disposedon the radially inner side of that portion 7 of the rim 6 which extendsaxially outwardly from the rim well 9. This rim portion 7 is connectedto the rim well 9, the radially outer portion of which has a U-shapedcross section. To prevent dirt and rainwater from entering this U-shapedregion, the latter is filled with a ring 10 of foam material.

To cover those spaces which are located axially outwardly of and next tothe U-legs of the rim well 9, and which are further delimited by the rimportion 7 and the tire beads 4, two equal covering rings 1 are provided.With rims where the wells do not have a U-shape and are not centrallylocated on the rim, covering rings of different sizes are installed. Ifa non-U-shaped well is centrally located on the rim, covering rings ofthe same size are used, but they have a greater width than that providedfor the covering rings 1 shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 illustrates an enlargement of the encircled portion of FIG. 1 inthe region of one of the covering rings 1. The axial edge regions of thering 1 are tapered and with inherent pressure respectively engage therim well 9 and the tire bead 4, so that these edge regions assume thefunction of sealing lips. A circumferential projection 11 is located onthat side of the ring 1 which faces the rim portion 7. With thisprojection 11, the covering ring 1 catches behind the tire bead 4. Theradially inner surface of the covering ring 1 extends, when viewed inthe transverse direction (also designated within the framework of thisapplication as the axial direction), horizontally or better stilllaterally inclined toward the outside, so that rain and splashed watercan run off toward the outside. An accumulation of dirt is also reliablyprevented.

The elastically deformable covering ring 1 can comprise a basicallynonflammable synthetic material, or also a metal. In either case, onemust be assured that the temperatures which occur at the rim well 9 as aconsequence of frequent braking are endured. If metal rings are usedthere may be expedient to provide the edges thereof with syntheticmaterial in order to prevent rattling noises.

In place of a single circumferential projection, the covering ring 1' ofFIGS. 3, 4, and 5 is provided with individual cams 12 which areuniformly distributed over the outer periphery; the distance betweensuccessive cams ranges from 1/12r# to 1/6rπ, where r equals the outerradius of the covering ring. The cams 12 mesh in associated recesses 13of the tire bead 4, so that the ring 1' is secured against rotation inthe circumferential direction. This fixation, in combination with anonuniform distribution of mass in the circumferential direction, orwith additional blocks 14 (FIG. 4) on the radially outer periphery ofthe covering ring 1', at the same time provides the latter with thefunction of a balance ring. If additional blocks 14 are provided, thereis expedient to provide them with safety or breaking planes and todivide them into a plurality of individual parts, so that "weights" canbe removed from a given balance in small units. The additional blocks 14also can be attached in such a way that the cams 14 which serve forfixation have an excess width (FIG. 3) which can be reduced by theremoval of individual "weights".

FIG. 4 shows the covering ring 1' in the unmounted state. Of primaryimportance is the configuration of the edge regions, which duringtransition into the mounted state are elastically deformed, so thatrestoring forces are formed which effect a reliable pressure on the rimwell 9 and the tire bead 4.

FIG. 6 shows a further vehicle wheel with a belted tire and a rim 6'with a centrally disposed rim well 9'; also provided are two coveringrings 1" which comprise hard foam material 15 and are provided radiallyinwardly with a trim or ornamental ring 16. FIG. 7 is an enlarged viewof the encircled portion of FIG. 6 in the region of one of the coveringrings 1". The ring 16 can serve as a mold for the foaming of the hardfoam material 15. For this purpose, the ring should be provided with aplurality of openings 17 which are distributed over the periphery andserve for supply of the foam 15 and for venting. The ring 16 can befastened to the ring of hard foam material 15 with the aid of plasticdowels or in another manner, and can be provided with fasteners 18 forthe attachment of balance weights.

The ring of hard foam material 15 also can be a prefabricated component,for example in the form of individual segments; the ring also can beprovided radially inwardly with a decorative surface, so that there isno longer any need for and additional ornamental ring.

The above described covering rings with a ring of hard foam material 15additionally fulfill a securing function for the tire beads 4 in thatthey prevent the tire beads 4 from lifting off of the rim seatingsurfaces.

FIG. 8 shows a radial partial section illustrating a portion up to themiddle of the rim with a covering ring 1"' which is formed by a springring 19 and an ornamental ring 16 fastened thereon. The circumferentialspring ring 19 is clamped in a space between the tire bead 4 and the rimwell 9' (FIG. 9), so that it also exercises a supporting effect for thetire bead 4. A circumferential flange is located on the ornamental ring16 as a fastener 18 for balance weights. The ornamental ring 16essentially comprises metal, with only edges 20, 21 thereof beingprovided with plastic or rubber serving as sealing lips.

The present invention is, of course, in no way restricted to thespecific disclosure of the specification and drawings, but alsoencompasses any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:
 1. A covering ring for a vehicle wheel on which ismounted a pneumatic, belted tire having a pull-resistant andcompression-resistant cores in the tire beads; said wheel having a rigidrim, radially inwardly extending rim flanges and a rim well, with arespective seating surface for receiving said tire being provided on theradially inner periphery of said rim next to each rim flange; thatportion of the radially inner periphery of said rim between each seatingsurface and the rim well extending in such a way that it has an averagediameter which is greater than the average diameter of said seatingsurfaces;said covering ring being an annular body which has such a widththat in the installed state covers the space between a given tire bead,the rim well, and that portion of said rim which extends axiallyoutwardly from said rim well toward said given tire bead; said coveringring, in the installed state, having a radially inwardly facing surfacewhich, when viewed in the transverse direction, extends in a directionranging from being horizontal to being outwardly inclined in such a waythat the radially inner diameter thereof increases from said rim well inthe direction toward the axially outer part of said covering ring; at nopoint of the space which is to be covered is this radially innerdiameter of said covering ring greater than the radially inner diameterof the mounted tire in the bead regions thereof; said covering ringcomprising hard foam material and filling said space between a giventire bead, the rim well, and that portion of said rim which extendsaxially outwardly from said rim well toward said given tire bead, saidradially inwardly facing surface of said covering ring being providedwith an ornamental ring.
 2. A covering ring according to claim 1, inwhich said ornamental ring comprises metal with only edges thereof beingprovided with sealing lips made of material taken from a groupconsisting of plastic, rubber and synthetic material to prevent rattlingnoises.
 3. A covering ring in for a vehicle wheel on which is mounted apneumatic, belted tire having pull-resistant and compression-resistantcores in the tire beads; said wheel having rigid rim, radially inwardlyextending rim flanges and a rim well, with a respective seating surfacefor receiving said tire being provided on the radially inner peripheryof said rim next to each rim flange; that portion of the radially innerperiphery of said rim between each seating surface and the rim wellextends in such a way that it has an average diameter which is greaterthan the average diameter of said seating surfaces;said covering ringbeing an annular body which has such a width that in the installed statecovers the space between a given tire bead, the rim well, and thatportion of said rim which extends axially outwardly from said rim welltoward said given tire bead; said covering ring comprising hard materialand being in the form of a spring ring which is adapted to be clamped inthe space between a given tire bead and said rim well; said spring ringhaving a radially inwardly facing surface, and an ornamental ringfastened thereon.
 4. A covering ring according to claim 3, in which saidornamental ring comprises metal with only edges thereof being providedwith sealing lips made of material taken from a group consisting ofplastic, rubber and synthetic material to prevent rattling noises.